Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during BRICS Leaders’ Informal Meeting on the sidelines of G-20 summit, in Buenos Aires, Nov. 30, 2018. (PIB Photo via PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that India will host the annual G-20 summit in 2022, coinciding with the country’s 75th anniversary of Independence.

Modi made the announcement at the closing ceremony of the two-day G-20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

He thanked Italy for allowing India to play the host. Italy was to host the international forum in 2022.

“In 2022 India completes 75 years since Independence. In that special year, India looks forward to welcoming the world to the G-20 Summit! Come to India, the world’s fastest growing large economy! Know India’s rich history and diversity, and experience the warm Indian hospitality,” Modi tweeted after making the announcement.

The G-20 is a grouping of the world’s 20 major economies.

G-20 members comprise Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK and the US.

“Playing hosts in 2022! At the concluding session of #G20Argentina, PM @narendramodi announced that coinciding with our 75th anniversary of independence, India will host the #G20Summit in 2022,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Collectively, the G-20 economies account for nearly 90 per cent of the gross world product, 80 per cent of world trade, two-thirds of the world population, and approximately half of the world land area.

Spain is a permanent guest invitee.

PM Modi, French president discuss ways to deepen strategic partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of France Emmanuel Macron in a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dec. 1. (PIB Photo via PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met French President Emmanuel Macron and the two leaders discussed ways to deepen and diversify the bilateral strategic partnership by enhancing trade and people-to-people ties.

During their meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit here Saturday, the two leaders also discussed common front against terrorist financing, and cooperation in maritime security, renewable energy and reform of international institutions.

“Had an excellent meeting with President @EmmanuelMacron. We had wide ranging discussions on ways to deepen and diversify the India-France strategic partnership, particularly by enhancing trade and people-to-people ties,” Modi tweeted after the meeting.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the two leaders had a “productive meeting” on the margins of G-20 summit.

The meeting between the two leaders took place amidst an attack by the Congress party which alleges corruption and favouritism in the Rs 58,000-crore fighter jet deal for purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft from France’s Dassault Aviation.

The government has denied any wrongdoing in the deal while the BJP has dismissed as “lies” corruption allegations levelled by the Congress.

 

Trump, Xi agree to take steps to address trade disputes

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with Germanys Chancellor Angela Merkel, on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Buenos Aires, Dec. 1. Trump canceled a press conference at the G20 summit, saying he wanted to show respect to the family of late president George H.W. Bush. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump Saturday agreed to suspend any new tariffs and take steps to address the trade disputes, which over the past few months had threatened to spill over into a trade war between the world’s two largest economies.

At their “highly successful” dinner meeting on the sidelines of the annual G-20 Summit here, Trump agreed not to bring in any new import tariffs on Chinese products, while Xi agreed to purchase a very substantial amount of US products so as to reduce the trade deficit between the two countries.

During the meeting, Trump agreed that on January 1, 2019, he will leave the tariffs on USD 200 billion worth of product at the 10 per cent rate, and not raise it to 25 per cent at this time.

“This was an amazing and productive meeting with unlimited possibilities for both the US and China. It is my great honour to be working with President Xi,” Trump said in a statement released by the White House after the dinner talks between the two leaders.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders described it as a “highly successful meeting” between the two leaders and their most senior representatives in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“Very importantly, President Xi, in a wonderful humanitarian gesture, has agreed to designate Fentanyl as a Controlled Substance, meaning that people selling Fentanyl to the United States will be subject to China’s maximum penalty under the law,” she said.

She also said that an increase of tariffs from 10 to 25 per cent due to kick in on January 1 would now be put on hold, providing room for negotiations.

“China will agree to purchase a not yet agreed upon, but very substantial, amount of agricultural, energy, industrial, and other product from the United States to reduce the trade imbalance between our two countries. China has agreed to start purchasing agricultural product from our farmers immediately,” Sanders said.

Trump and Xi also agreed to immediately begin negotiations on structural changes with respect to forced technology transfer, intellectual property protection, non-tariff barriers, cyber intrusions and cyber theft, services and agriculture.

“Both parties agree that they will endeavour to have this transaction completed within the next 90 days. If at the end of this period of time, the parties are unable to reach an agreement, the 10 per cent tariffs will be raised to 25 per cent,” Sanders said.

It was also agreed that great progress has been made with respect to North Korea and that President Trump, together with President Xi, will strive, along with North Korean leader Chairman Kim Jong Un, to see a nuclear free Korean Peninsula. President Trump has expressed his friendship and respect for Kim, she said.

“Xi also stated that he is open to approving the previously unapproved Qualcomm-NXP deal should it again be presented to him,” Sanders said.

Before their meeting, Xi underscored the need of cooperation between the two countries. “Only with cooperation between us can we serve the interest of both peace and prosperity,” he said.

 

PM Modi meets EU leaders, discusses on strengthening joint effort to counter terrorism

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes talks with the German Chancellor, Dr. Angela Merkel, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dec. 1, 2018. (PIB Photo via PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met European Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the G-20 summit here and discussed ways to strengthen the India-EU relations, including joint effort to counter terrorism in all forms.

India and EU had vowed to step up cooperation in effectively dealing with terrorism, extremism and radicalisation during the India-EU annual counter terrorism and political dialogue held in Brussels in November.

Both the sides had agreed to find ways to enhance cooperation to counter violent extremism and radicalisation as well as to deal with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats.

“A wonderful interaction with President of @EU_Commission, @JunckerEU & @eucopresident Donald Tusk. Our talks revolved around enhancing friendship between India and EU. We also discussed aspects relating to eliminating the menace of terrorism,” Modi tweeted.

Earlier, following Modi’s meeting with the two EU leaders, External Affairs spokesperson Ravish Kumar had tweeted, “PM @narendramodi held a meeting with President of @EU_Commission @JunckerEU & @eucopresident Donald Tusk on margins of #G20Summit. Discussion focused on strengthening India-EU relations, including joint effort to counter terrorism in all forms.”

Modi and Merkel exchanged views on importance of multilateralism in a rapidly changing world and the need to strengthen cooperation in counter terrorism.

“Met Chancellor Merkel at Buenos Aires. We reviewed the full range of relations between India and Germany. Our countries are cooperating extensively for the benefit of our citizens and working together towards world peace as well as stability,” Modi tweeted.